The "Middle East and Terrorism" Blog was created in order to supply information about the implication of Arab countries and Iran in terrorism all over the world. Most of the articles in the blog are the result of objective scientific research or articles written by senior journalists.

From the Ethics of the Fathers: "He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it."

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Erdoğan is in trouble again

by Eyal Zisser

After a several-week
long hiatus, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once again
nabbed headlines in Israel, this time by making a false and outrageous
claim that Zionism, like anti-Semitism and fascism, is a form of racism
that should be internationally combated.

One could dismiss his
most recent comments, much like his previous remarks, as yet another
irrepressible outburst by a demagogue who can't seem to control his
mouth, and who is willing to destroy his country's relations with Israel
and with other nations with his impulsivity. All this just to gain
cheap popularity among his supporters, or to exact retribution for what
he perceives to be a personal Israeli insult against him.

It is possible,
however, that there is a certain logic to his madness. Perhaps the
irritating comments coming out of Ankara represent a much deeper process
currently underway in Turkey, which also affects the country's
relations with Israel.

This year will mark a
decade since Erdoğan's party rose to power. He is likely very proud of
what he has accomplished during this time. After all, Erdoğan's clique
managed to tighten its grip on state institutions and Turkish society
and to successfully quash the last pockets of opposition, especially
within the military and the old elites. If Erdoğan indeed wants to
obliterate the secular legacy of Kamal Attaturk, who founded the modern
Turkish republic, that goal is now within his reach.

Still, there are many
dark clouds hanging over Erdoğan's successes. When he ascended to power
he envisaged a state of "zero problems" that would eventually achieve
peaceful relations and foster dialogue with all of Turkey's neighbors. A
decade later, though, Turkey has zero friends and is facing a growing
number of problems.

Tragedy unfolded from
the south, from Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, once the
Turkish prime minister's close ally and intimate friend, has become
Erdoğan's number one enemy. The Turkish prime minister's harsh rhetoric
against Israel doesn't even compare to his treatment of the Syrian
president, whom he recently dubbed the angel of death, Satan, a mass
murderer and more.

The Syrian civil war
has presented Erdoğan with quite the imbroglio. Under the shadow of war,
the Syrian Kurds have constituted a semi-autonomous region in
coordination with their brethren in Iraq. This development could affect
the Kurds living in Turkey, who make up to 30 percent of the population
(and with whom Turkey has fought a decades-long armed conflict that has
resulted in thousands of casualties). Erdoğan, it turns out, is not as
all-powerful as he pretends to be, or wants to believe.

But the worse Erdoğan's
frustration and helplessness become, so his declarations become more
caustic, sometimes directed at the U.S., mostly directed at Syria, and
at times also at Israel.

Erdoğan and Turkey are
not synonymous. Many Turks still understand the need to maintain
economic and political ties with Israel. Even today, Israeli-Turkish
trade is thriving. In fact the media recently reported that Israel and
Turkish defense industries have resumed doing business.

What we need now is a
sober approach to Israeli-Turkish relations. From time to time, Erdoğan
must be reminded that the Ottoman Empire is over — Not because Israel
wants to turn Turkey into its enemy. The relationship between the two
countries can, and should be restored, despite Erdoğan's position. It is
important to remember, though, that the good old days of friendship
between Israel and Turkey have long gone, and will never return.

The new Turkey wants to be a
leader in the Arab and Islamic world. Turkey sees its political and
economic interests in that sphere, and therefore, an alliance with
Israel would not advance Turkey's goals. On the contrary: Erdoğan and
his cohorts believe that anti-Israel rhetoric actually bolsters their
Middle Eastern status. Insults and verbal blows alongside dialogue and
cooperation over mutual interests define their game. Even after Erdoğan
is gone, Turkey will probably still sing the same tune, perhaps just in a
different key.